Hosiery boarding apparatus



May 17, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 20, 1955 2 I 1 I 1 n I I I 1...n n m w a Du u n a l/ DH JOI Fill F I G.

ATTORNEYS d db' May 17, 1560 T. P. FLANAGAN HOSIERY BOARDING APPARATUSFiled June 20, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet FIG. 2.

INVENTOR P. F LANAGAN THOMAS ATTORNEYS 3 SheetsSheet 3 Filed June 20,1955 22 FIG. 6.

DELAY SWITCH MAGNETIC GLUTOH N s A Y Gm u A R MN 0 VA u mL M A F R S A wmm 3 G F HOSIERY BOARDING APPARATUS Thomas Patrick Flanagan, Levittown,Pa.

Application June 20, 1955, Serial No. 516,511

3 Claims. (Cl. 34-103) This invention relates to hosiery boardingapparatus and has particular reference to the preboarding of hosierythough, as will appear, the apparatus is of more general applicability.

In the manufacture of hosiery from nylon or similar yarns ofthermoplastic type the procedure following knitting has involved thesuccessive steps of preboarding, dyeing,- and finish boarding. Thesesteps have been required for the production of satisfactory stockings,because of the nature of the thermoplastic yarn. The stockings, asknitted, are full of wrinkles and even if the wrinkles could beotherwise smoothed out the stockings would be very poorly shaped. Thesethermoplastic yarns are quite stiff and resilient and it is necessary tosubject the stockings to a stretched condition on a form and to applytemperatures which will soften and shrink the yarn with the result thatupon cooling the stitches are well shaped and a smooth and properlycontoured. stocking results. The shape thus imparted to the stitches andto the stockings as a whole are thereafter retained unless the stockingis again subjected to a sufficiently high temperature to soften theyarn, which is unlikely in any normal course of laundering since thesoftening temperature is above the boiling point of water at ordinarypressures. The preboarding as heretofore carried out has beenaccomplished by the direct application of steam to the stockings andsuch procedure makes impossible or impractical with the usual dyes aprocedure of dyeing before the preboarding, since the moist atmospherewould either destroy the dyes or cause them to run. Accordingl'y dyeinghas followed the preboarding and the stockings following washing havehad to be finished by a final boarding operation which essentiallyinvolves more drying, the temperatures used not being suliicient todisturb the stitches which were set as a result of the preboardingoperation.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide improvedapparatus applicable to preboarding of the usual type, i.e., precedingdyeing and final boarding. The apparatus is however also applicable tofinal boarding.

A further object of the invention, however, is to provide a boardingapparatus which may be used following dyeing without preboarding. Inthis case, the stockings may be dyed as they come from the knittingmachine. Then they may be dried and subjected to a single boardingoperation in accordance with the invention which will effect the sameresults as preboarding in setting the stitches and shapes of thestockings but with the result of producing stockings which are incondition for sale. In particular this result is accomplished bycarrying out the operation under dry conditions which will not adverselyaffect the dyes which may have been used.

Further objects of the invention relate to the provision of an apparatuswhich is convenient to use and rapid in its treatment of the stockings.The apparatus has an automatic cycle of operation giving an operatorample time to remove finished stockings and place unboarded Stockings onforms for treatment.

tates atent O ice The foregoing and other objects of the inventionparticularly relating to details of construction and operation willbecome apparent from the following description read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an improved apparatus provided inaccordance with the invention, certain of the parts being shown insection to illustrate details;

Figure 2 is a view looking in the same direction as that in Figure 1 butshowing a vertical section through the apparatus;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the apparatus partly in section to showinterior details;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation showing means for attaching astocking form to a carrier;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the plane indicated at 5-5 inFigure 4; and

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram showing certain of the electricalconnections involved in securing an automatic operating cycle.

The complete machine comprises a casing generally indicated at 2 formedof sheet metal and structural elements for enclosure of the parts andsupport thereof. Mounted in the casing is a drive motor 4 which througha magnetic clutch 6 and reduction gearing 8 drives a transverse shaft10. On one end of this shaft there is secured switch-operating cam 12which, as most clearly shown in Figure l, is provided at 45 intervalswith lobes 14 and spaces 16. The circumference of the cam is thusdivided into eight sections individually corresponding to eight stockingforms which are also carried by the shaft as will presently bedescribed. It will of course be obvious that other numbers of stockingforms may be used, in which case the form of the cam 12 would becorrespondingly changed.

The cam 12 acts upon the operating arm 18 of a single-pole double-throwswitch 20 which may be of the Inicroswitch type. The clutch 6 isdesirably energized by direct current from a rectifier 22 supplied fromthe conventional alternating current lines.

The opposite end of the shaft 10 supports a disc-like carrier 24 for thehosiery forms. The carrier 24 is provided with an octagonal flange 26 onwhich the bases of the forms may rest. At each of eight angularly spacedintervals on the carrier there is provided a square opening 28'receiving the square head of a bolt 30 on which may be threaded a wingnut 32. Each form 34 is provided with a lateral slot 36 which may beslipped over the shank of the bolt to a position in which a hole 40 inthe form embraces an associated pin 38 in the carrier. This arrangementprovides for easy and secure replaceent of forms.

As viewed in Figures 1 and 2 the top and left-hand sides of the casing 2are provided with slots 42 aifording communication of limitedcross-section to the heating chamber 44' provided in the casing andsurrounded by heat-insulating material 46. The forms 34 follow anarcuate path in the chamber 44 and to avoid waste space the bottom isdesirably delimited by wall portions 48, 50 and52.

A blower 53 supplies air through a pair of ducts indicated at 54 and 56which lead to slotted outlets indicated at 58 on both sides of the pathof the forms in the chamber 44. Air driven by the blower is emitted fromthe slots 58 and passes downwardly across and between two banks ofheating coils indicated at 60 and 62 in the form of open resistance wireheaters. As indicated in Figure 2, the coils are desirably arranged soas to take the general shape of an adjacent form occupying the fixedposition 34A during a cycle. Reflectors 64 are desirably located back ofthe heating coils to reflect the maximum amount of heat toward thecentral region of chamber 44. The air after passing over the coils 60and 62 flows toward the left as viewed in Figure 2 and is drawn from theleft-hand end of chamber 44 through a vertical slot 66 communicatingwith a passageway delimited by' plates 68 and 70 which leads the air tothe intake of the blower 53. A series of guide baflles 72 are desirablyprovided in this passage to assure that the air intake and hence theflow of air in the chamber 44 is evenly distributed about stockingslocated on the forms in vertical position during the successive cycles.

The blower 53 is driven by a motor 74 through belt 76, the motor beingdesirably of variable speed type, the speed being adjustable by means ofa conventional control such as indicated at 78in Figure 1. In thisfashion the fiow of air and the effective heating may be adjusted.

A pair of ,timers 80 and 82 are used to control the successive cycles ofoperation. The cycling controls will be best made clear by considerationof the wiring diagram in Figure 6.

Terminals 84 receiving current from the commercial alternating supplyprovide through switch 86 current to the rectifier 22 and to the timedelay switches 80 and 82. The time delay switches are of theconventional type involving a synchronous timing motor driven by thealternating current together with a clutch arrangement and settingcontrol which provides a cycle following an initiating impulseconsisting of a time delay and, at the end of such delay, closure ofswitches as indicated respectively at 88 and 90. These switches are inparallel and, as indicated in Figure 6, control the supply of currentfrom the rectifier 22 to the magnetic clutch 6. The single-poledouble-throw switch 20 is indicated in Figure 6 and it will be notedthat it is so arranged as to supply power alternately to the controllinginput connections 92 and 94 of the time delay switches.

Each cycle of operation involves rotation of shaft through one-eighth ofa revolution followed by a rest period adjustable by adjustment of thetimers 80 and 82. In this fashion'the forms are brought in succession tovarious positions of rest which are those indicated in Figure 2. Theform extending horizontally to the right in this figure is about toenter the chamber 44, rotation being clockwise. The preceding form inthe series is in alignment between the heaters provided by the coils 60and 62. The next preceding form is in the downwardly extending verticalposition where it is subject to the flow of the recirculating air. Thenext preceding form has been moved out of the end slot in the housing,and the next is in horizontal position extending toward the left whereremoval and loading may be accomplished.

To understand a cycle, it may be assumed that the switch 20 has justbeen located in its lowermost position by the action of one of the camlobes 14. As will finally appear, this will have opened the switch 88 sothat the magnetic clutch is deenergized and shaft 10 is at rest despitethe fact that the small motor 4 is continuously running. As soon as thelower contact is made by switch 20 the time delay switch 82 has itscycle initiated which involves a predetermined delay, depending on itssetting, before the switch 90 therein is closed. When the switch 90 isclosed current is supplied to the magnetic clutch to drive the shaft 10.At the end of the one-eighth of a revolution of this shaft the follower18 will drop off the lobe .14 which it previously engaged causing theswitch 20 to close in its upper position. When this occurs current isremoved from the switch 82 and its control switch 90 opens deenergizingthe clutch and bringing the shaft to rest. At the same time the presetdelay cycle of the switch 80 is initiated, and the shaft 10 remains atrest until the end of the delay interval when the switch 88 closes againenergizing the clutch 6 to impart another eighth revolution to theshaft10. At the end of such movement the switch 20 is again shifted producingopening of switch 88 and restarting the operation of switch 82, thuscompleting the cycle described.

The rotation of the carrier 10 in each movement is rapid, but the restperiods may be anything desired depending upon the Weight of the yarnused in the stocking, the desired action, and the like. In startingoperation on a new batch of stockings of a particular type, the operatormay make some preliminary tests on a few of them to determine the properconditions of the rest time to be involved, and of speed of the blowerif that is used, and may make adjustments accordingly.

In using the present apparatus for preboarding the flow of air is notused but the preboarding is effected solely by the action of theheaters. Desirably these are of a type in which the total heat isdistributed over a considerable area or, in other words, theconcentration of heat per unit area is kept low. By control through thetimers of the rest periods of the stocking forms proper preboarding iseffected.

If the apparatus is used for finish boarding after dyeing and washing,the stockings as they are placed on the forms will generally be damp,and the blower is then used to recirculate air, the rest times of theforms and the blower adjustments being then so made as to effect dryingand the proper finishboarding without, however, permitting thetemperature to rise to such extent as to reset the yarn. It has beenfound that in many cases in effecting finish boarding it is desirable toadd a second pair of heaters adjacent to the position of the form whenit depends vertically from its support, i.e., in the position of thelowermost form in Figure 2. In this way using two pairs of heaters andair circulation effective proper drying is secured. a

In accordance with the invention dyeing may be effected prior to anyboarding, the stockings being dyed as they come from the knitting andseaming and looping processes, the dyeing being carried out inaccordance with conventional practices followed by washing and dryingprior to placement of the stockings on the forms. The preboarding isthen carried out in the fashion indicated above, without the use ofrecirculating air, the rest times of the cycles being adjusted forproper preboarding. This preboarding is then also the final boarding ofthe stockings which as taken from the apparatus are in finishedcondition ready for folding and marketing. It may be noted that in suchoperation the stockings are not exposed to the preboarding action whilewet so that there is avoidance of detriment to the dyeing such as wouldoccur if the heating was carried out under moist conditions.

By reason of the utilization of the recycled hot air very uniform dryingis secured, not only of the flat faces of the stockings which aredirectly opposite the heating coils but of the edges as well.

It will be evident from the foregoing that various changes in details ofoperation may be effected without departing from the invention. Forexample, the air flow may be controlled by a damper arrangement with ablower operating at constant speed. Other changes may obviously be madewithin the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. i

What is claimed is:

l. Boarding apparatus for hosiery comprising an enclosure, meansmounting a plurality of hosiery forms for movement into, through and outof said enclosure, means for driving said mounting means intermittentlyto provide movements of said forms interrupted by rest periods thereof,timing means for adjustably controlling the durations of said restperiods, heating means within'said enclosure, and means forrecirculating hot air through said enclosure about hosiery carried byforms located therein including a blower, means for conducting air fromsaid blower and discharging the same into said enclosure to one side ofsaid heating means from walls respectively disposed upon opposite sidesof the hosiery formslocated within said enclosure, and means for drawingsaid air across said heating means and enclosure and conducting it tosaid blower for recirculation thereof.

2. Boarding apparatus for hosiery comprising an enclosure, meansmounting a plurality of hosiery forms for movement into, through and outof said enclosure, means for driving said mounting means intermittentlyto provide movements of said forms interrupted by rest periods thereof,timing means for adjustably controlling the durations of said restperiods, heating means within said enclosure, and means forrecirculating hot air through said enclosure about hosiery carried byforms located therein including a blower, means for conducting air fromsaid blower and discharging the same into said enclosure to one side ofsaid heating means, and means for drawing said air across said heatingmeans through an enclosure wall opening having a. vertical extentapproximating the length of a hosiery form and located on the side ofthe hosiery form mounting means remote from the heating means andconducting it to said blower for recirculation thereof.

3. Boarding apparatus for hosiery comprising an enclosure, meansmounting a plurality of hosiery forms for movement into, through and outof said enclosure, means for driving said mounting means intermittentlyto provide movements of said forms interrupted by rest periods thereof,timing means for adjustably controlling the durations of said restperiods, heating means within said enclosure, and means forrecirculating hot air through said enclosure about hosiery carried byforms located therein including a blower, means for conducting air fromsaid blower and discharging the same into said enclosure to one side ofsaid heating means, and means for drawing said air across said heatingmeans and enclosure through an enclosure wall opening having a verticalextent approximating the length of a hosiery form and located on theside of the hosiery form mounting means remote from the heating meansand conducting it to said blower for recirculation thereof through anair passage intervening said enclosure wall opening and the blower, saidair passage being baffied for making the suction induced by said blowersubstantially equally effective throughout the vertical extent of saidopening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,627,529 Wigglesworth May 3, 1927 1,993,413 Mellon Mar. 5, 19352,244,472 Nydegger June 3, 1941 2,299,007 Bundy Oct. 13, 1942 2,299,040Schwartz Oct. 13, 1942 2,333,160 Dunn Nov. 2, 1943 2,490,044. Garbariniet al. Dec. 6, 1949 2,669,502 Walmsley Feb. 16, 1954 2,745,191Southerland May 15, 1956 2,761,221 Berry Sept. 4, 1956

